Evolutionary Sprint 2006/12

This article contains the plan of evolutionary eComStation development approach.

Synopsis: The only way to keep OS/2 platform alive is continue evolutionary development; Every member of the community has obligations and he should fulfil them to achieve common prosperity.

We offer "Evolutionary Sprint" way

Evolutionary = don't migrate to other platform

Sprint = 1-2 years to improve situation (starting from fall 2006)

1. Model

First of all, let's select the model to simplify the analysis and selection of futher development direction.

Let's imagine that OS/2 community is living in eComStation village (there is a Linux and Windows megapolises on the horizont). We are separated from the other world and have own government, own traditions, interests and laws.

Any modern village usually has similar problems.
eComStation (OS/2) village surfers from devastation:

there is Unemployment (not all developers have salary)

Emigration (we are lossing people every month)

Leak of technologies (Many eCS software is ported to Windows)

Weak psychological state of users which do not participate in projects

No large factories, no external investments

No killing applications (i.e. applications which don't have analogues in other OSes)

Nevertheless, there is a hope to make the life in the village better.
Every week we can see that:

there are many specialists around

the community is not divided (this offten happens in other communities)

We can run eCS on modern PC again (ACPI, GenMAC, etc)

We have traditions and advanced technologies

The listed problems make users and developers search a salvation way. There were 2 projects which offer move to Linux platform and immitate OS/2 feel and view.

Let's call this way as "China-town in Linux megapolis".

This way of development is good for organizers of China-town

Bad for developers of eComStation software

Good for some consumers (users)

Death for those who stay in the village

We appreciate the efforts of users and developers which
are working on this projects but we should assume that
people will become assimilated in 1-2 generations.
New system always means new customers, new technologies, tips&tricks.
OS/2 developers will spend many efforts to duplicate the original
system and this will make them spend all time in Linux.

It is offered forget about the users going to Linux.
We can't stop them and we should care about alive users.

In the same time, we don't deny the importance of Linux.

Linux today is a source of hi-tech raw materials:

Usually we Import black box (get working linux program)

Add native GUI (integrate into Workplace shell)

Add interoperability with other native applications

In result we get new native application. It's good but this
doesn't give competitive advantages over Linux. We always stay
behind the competitor (To check this, imagine that instead of 100 applications we
have 10000 linux applications).

2. Current status

The results of the poll show that half of users are fans,
the second half are using the system for everyday purposes and it fits
their needs.

The same may attract new users. Other people will join us

If we advertise our platform

If we prove that this is the best OS

If we offer Useful software (better: we are monopolist of necessary software)

If we offer high&easy earnings to new users and developers

Let's continue the investigation,
What is the current state of the system and community (achievements and problems):

Advantages:

There are many specialists

Modern PCs are supported

All developers are loaded

Software updates every day

We are small and mobile

Alive sites, alive companies

etc.

Problems:

There are barriers

Tons of bugs in OS

We don't export news to IT world

Poor communications

Every member is working alone

No toolkits, to templates of apps

etc.

The are barriers which can't be broken

Frozen 32-bit kernel (Where is the list of needed features?)

Java Virtual Machine (Show me the company which is able port it)

Video drivers (every alternative OS has this problem)

Decrease of population (Don't drink beer)

USB problems (Flash disks, USB keyboards, slow speed, bugs)

PM improvement

Missing source code of system component

etc.

We don't have resources, specialists and experience to break this barriers.

We should improve the way of work and start with simple rules:

Don't shoot fake targets. Make software to increase population.

Improve infrastructure, optimize processes

Found the Corporation of eComStation users and developers

Joint design and analysis of software

Barriers may be broken step by step

After population increase

after Create & promote medium size software

If we create templates for such apps and users participate as professional beta-testers

If we determine the list of templates

.. (help us construct the sequence)

3. Roles

Every member of the community should know own obligations and fulfill them to achieve common prosperity.

Government should care about:

Roads

How to deliver products to users (How to sell software on eCS market. Provide working infrastructure)

How to create apps from A-Z (Where to find components and quickly assemble new product)

How to find needed solutions and programs

Migration politics

How to attract 10 developers, 1-2 companies to our market?

How to feed every specialist. And don't allow him emigrate

Make developers use common libraries (I/O Procs)

Education

Maintain eCS toolkit

Build large factories and manufacture complex software:

In other words it should bring Office suite, Virtual machine and other large industrial software.

Statistics:

Government should contact all solutions developers and query which libraries and technologies do they need in the next few monthes? This will allow improve the operating system and bring additional income to solutions developers.

5. Conclusion

As you can see, we offer improve the critical nodes in eCS cycle. This improvements are drawed with red color. We suggest how to simplify and improve development of software, who may join community, how to bring money to eCS resellers.

Slogan: Let's create more original software for eCS users, then promote it on other markets to attract new users

6. Additional information

The Evolutionary Sprint is formulated by eCo Software and based on our experince since 1997.